Fellow Yidden, I write to sound the alarm about what I see unfolding. I know this perspective may not be popular, and I respect other perspectives too, yet being open to reading other viewpoints is healthy, regardless of your own opinion. America First is not in the interest of Orthodox Jews in America. I did not vote for Trump this time around, despite having been an avid, even obsessed, Trump supporter back in 2016. What changed? As a dedicated follower of right-wing media, I was convinced that Trump was playing 4-D chess after his election loss to Biden, certain he would pull it off with alternative electors, prove fraud, and win in the courts and state legislatures. That never happened. For the first time, I began to doubt: Was I misled? Was there actually no fraud? Maybe, just maybe, the Biden campaign simply utilized existing COVID voting laws to its advantage. I began to see Trump in a different light. Very different. Fast forward several years, and I now realize that America First, combined with Trump’s ego-driven politics, is a dangerous choice for American Jews. Thus far, I believe a solid case can be made that we are actually seeing this unfold in real time. Trump’s erratic, unstable tariff policies have brought economic hardship to our community. Commodities have risen, materials have become more costly and harder to import, and government subsidies for industries like solar have transformed many previously comfortable families into strugglers. His cuts to federal subsidies for state Medicaid marketplaces have gutted funding many Orthodox families relied on for tutoring and educational supports, compounding the already heavy burden of tuition. These funds were a boon for heimishe families, and their loss has cost thousands of dollars of out-of-pocket expenses. The “big, beautiful bill” recently passed will go even further. Premiums are set to skyrocket due to new restrictions and bi-annual re-enrollment requirements, designed to push people off subsidized healthcare. Thousands of Jewish families earning middle-class incomes currently benefit from subsidized Obamacare premiums and now face uncertainty. As for tax cuts, they largely extend Trump’s 2017 tax policies while granting billions in perks for the wealthy. Most heimishe families should not expect meaningful tax relief any time soon. Regarding Israel and Iran, I believe Trump’s policy was deeply flawed. Despite what Israeli officials may say publicly, there was no reason to force a ceasefire on Israel, especially after Iran’s final missile attack that penetrated Israeli defenses. Israeli military sources indicated there were still many targets, and ending the operation prematurely did not sufficiently reestablish deterrence. Israel should have been allowed to finish its operation on its own terms. The Fordow bombing, while certainly appreciated, likely became the leverage Trump used to force a ceasefire so he could be hailed as the “peacemaker-in-chief.” The Israeli military could have managed without external interference, leaving them beholden to no one. It was also frankly quite distasteful to see Trump taking so much credit for what was arguably an incredible strategic success for the Israelis. The Israelis made it possible for Trump to launch a few bunker busters, after having taken the risks to their own cities and clearing Iranian air defenses. On securing the border, Trump’s efforts to control illegal entry were undeniably effective. However, mass deportations of people who have […]